In recent years, Japan's kawaii culture has exploded in popularity. WSJ's Eric Bellman speaks with author Manami Okazaki about how cuteness has gained a global fanbase.

In Japan, ‘cute’ is a big deal. Their own word for it, kawaii (“ka-why-ee”), is more of an ethos than an adjective. Shops and billboards are filled with big-eyed fluffy figures.

Part of the confusion stems from a misunderstanding of “kawaii,” which is Japanese for “cute” but also connotes a lovable or adorable essence. Sanrio recruited Shimizu and other ...

Kawaii Monster Cafe - the most surreal cafe in Japan - has teamed up with the lovable Hello Kitty for an extra psychedelic twist! Every dish is a cute, rainbow filled plate of fun! Kawaii Poison ...

Kawaii to the max, the series follows the adventures of two of the most beloved characters from Japan's Sanrio, world-famous ...

Richard Magarey, better known as Ladybeard, is a cross-dressing pro wrestler and a heavy metal singer from Adelaide who’s made it big in Japan. Ladybeard is a Japan-based Australian wrestler ...